Means for affixing identification labels to rubber stamps



May 16, 1933.

R, EVANS 1,909,257

MEANS FOR AFFIXING IDENTIFICATION LABELS T0 RUBBER STAMPS FiledA Dee. 8, 1930 INVENTOR.'

-fi/. ATTORNEY.

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcla;v

RICHARD EVANS, or lrrrc-:vnrallvn PARKILLTNOIS MEANS Fon AFEIXING IDENTIFICATION-LABELS To RUBBER STAMPS Application med nemiaer 8, v1930. serial No. 500,891.

*lo thereof the a lyin of which is relatively a PP g expensive Vand undesirable, or else these stamps have incomplete identification labels affixed to the-various sides of the base by` means of dierent arrangements, these labels being incomplete because the area of thev narrow side is too small topermit the displaying of a complete label. It is, therefore, the salient object of this invention to provide stamp bases and parts of such construction that complete identification labels may be displayed on the most appropriate and advantageous side of the base, the labels being retained in proper and perfect position without the use of adhesives.

Othervobjects will appear hereinafter.

yThe invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing Athe preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a complete' rubber stamp provided with my improved visible identification label;

l Fig. 2 is a sectional .detail view taken substantially on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1, illus- -trating a preferred manner of aiixing the label; e x y 40' Fig.A 3 is a perspective view of the rubber stamp base, or mount, illustrated in Fig. 1 bored to receive the tenon of the handle, the handle and identification label having been removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a transparent sheet cut to a size tobe mounted on the convex upper area of the base or mount, the sheet being provided with a hole for passage therethrough ofthe tenon ofthe handle;

Fig.4 5 is a perspective view of an indiciabearing sheet provided with a hole for passage therethrough of the tenon of the handle; Fig. 6 ls a perspective view of another forln of rubber stamp base, or mount, used in the art provided with my improvedform of construction for affixing my improved visible identification label thereon; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 7-7 in 6. j I Y In the making of so. called rubber stamps it has been found advantageous to provide an identification label on each one. Rubber stamps are extensively used and, where large numbers are used in the same locationare, L

for convenience, generally kept on racks, 'or on some other means of support in relatively close relation to each other to conserve space. Because of the similarity of appearance between them, however, time'is lost in locating the particular stamp desired for immediate use and so the art has found it advantageous to provide each stamp with an identification label so that any particular Stamp can readily be identified and chosen from a group of stamps. It has been the customof the prior art to affix this label tol thefnarrowside of therubber stamp base because the sideopposite the rubber letters, or rubber dies as they are known in ythe art, which ordinarily ig would be'more appropriate because it is kof the same area as that occupied bythe rubber die, is neglected because it is bored to receive the tenon of the handle, and for this reason `the art has preferred to use the narrow side.-

Some manufacturers have, however, recognlzed the advantage of afxing the label to .the side opposite the rubber die, which is generally the upper side, as the'area of this side is always large enough to accommodate,

a Vcomplete identification label lbecause the area of this side is always as large as the rubber die mounted on the opposite Side, the narrow side being, in most instances, too narrow to accomplish this. The larger side, however,

as it was used in the prior art, necessitated the use of adhesives with which to glue the proper, permanent position. Otherv means of aiiixing labels now in general use, other than the use of adhesives, are satisfactory for narrow surfaces only but their purpose is defeated on relatively wider surfaces because the above mentioned means will not properly retain the identification labels, since they do not provide the proper construction for holding the identification labels tightly to the base without the use of adhesives. The use of adhesives is relatively expensive because of their cost, considerable time is necessary for properly applying them which is also costly, and the application of adhesives requires considerable experience for the operator to do the work satisfactorily, and their use is undesirable because of other objectionable conditions coincident with the use of adhesives. VTo eliminate the expense of the adhesives, the time and experience necessary for their application, and the objectionable features coincidentwith their use I have invented a new and novel arrangement and combination of parts to speedily and easily afiix identification labels to rubber stamps so they will be tightly and permanently retained on their wide areas without the use of adhesives, and the invention will be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction and in which there is generally indicated at 10 a rubber stamp base, or mount, on one side of which is provided the die 11, and this base 10 is bored as at 12, to receive the tenon 13 of a handle 14. Indicated at 15 is the visible identification label which is disposed on the wide convex upper area 17 of the base 10 and in the present instance this label spells the words Patent Pending which are inscribed on the sheet 20 in any suitable manner such as by being inked with suitable indicia.

Extending longitudinally of the upper area 17 and at the sides thereof are ledges or ridges 18. Each of these ledges or ridges 18 cooperates with a portion of the convex surface 17 to provide a groove 19, and each of these grooves 19 extends parallel to its corresponding ridge 18 at the side edge of the convex surface 17. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the uppermost point in the convex area 17 is above the grooves 19.

In Fig. 5 there is depicted a sheet of paper 2O which includes parallel side edges 21 and 22 and parallel end edges 23 and'24, the sheet 2O being provided with a hole 25 which is adapted to be aligned with the bore 12 so that the tenon 13 of the handle 14 may pass through the hole 25 into the bore 12. Depicted in Fig. 4 is a sheet 26 of relatively stiff resilient transparent material such, for example, as Celluloid which is cut to be the exact size of the sheet 2O and this sheet V26 is defined by parallel side edges 27 and 28 and parallel end edges 29 and 30. A hole 31 is provided in the sheet 26 and when the sheet 26 is disposed over the sheet 2O the hole 31 is aligned with the hole 25 so that the tenon 13 of the handle 14 may pass through the holes 31 and 25 into the bore 12.

'Io carry my invention into effect, the rubber die 11` is properly inked and an impression of the reading matter it carries is made on the paper 20. The transparent covering 26 is then placed over the impression on the paper 20, both paper 2O and covering 26 having been cut to the proper identical size which results in a transparently covered .label and both cover 26 and paper 20 may then be considered a combination forming one unit. The salient object of the invention is to now speedily and easily aflix this identification label without the use of adhesives and this can easily be done. It is intended that the operator take the covered label consisting ofsheets 20 and 26, between the fingers, and, by exerting a relatively light pressure on the edges 27 and 28, and also on the corresponding edges 22 and 2l they will be brought closer to each other, causing the paper and transparent covering to assume a convex shape identical to the shape of the convex surface 17. The edges 27 and 22 and the edges 28 and 21 are then inserted into the grooves 19 and the label, because of its convex shape, will clear the apex of the convex surface 17 so that it can now be pushed over the convex surface 17 It is apparent, therefore, that since the apex of the surface 17 is 'positioned at a point above the grooves 19, the

resilient sheet 26 tends to flatten itself but is prevented from so doing by the convex face 17, and the resilient sheet 26 thus binds the edge portions of the label in the grooves 19, making a neat, complete and relatively perfect and permanent means of identification without the use of objectionable adhesives. The tenon 13 passing through'the holes 31 and 25 will prevent shifting of the label while the stamp is in use.

It is to be understood that all parts must be properly made so they will come into proper relation with each other which is relatively simple and the expense of which is relatively small, especially so when the parts are manufactured in standard uniform sizes.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the invention is illustrated as applied to a stamp mount or base ofV a different form and in this type of mount no handle is provided thereon. Otherwise, the application of the invention to the type of mount depicted in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially similar to the manner of applying the invention to the type of mount shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, it being apparent by a perusal of the drawing that the convex surface 17 on the'mount 32 is provided on one side of the neck portion 33 of the mount and in this instance the holes 31 and 25 in the sheets 28 and 20 are dispensed with, as is the bore 12, there being no handle 1,4 employed on the type of mount illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be apparent that I have provided new and improved means for expeditiously and economically affxing identification labels to various sizes and designs of stamp mounts or bases, it being understood that the two types of mounts or bases illustrated in the drawing are merely illustrative and not limitative. of the invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and Inodication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the Precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiiications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A stamp base having a convex surface and including ledges projecting over the longitudinal side edges of said surface, each of said ledges having a groove extending thereintO, continuous with said surface, and said grooves opening toward each other and toward said surface, an index sheet upon said surface having edge portions inserted into said grooves, and a relatively stili resilient transparent sheet placed over the index sheet having edge portions inserted into said grooves above the first-named edge portions, whereby the tendency of said resilient sheet to flatten itself out from the convexity thus imparted to it by said convex surface will bind said edge portions in the grooves and the index sheet upon said surface withthe index visible through the transparent sheet.

2. A stamp including a base having a convex surface, ridges on the said surface projecting over the longitudinal side edges of said surface, each of said ridges having a groove extending thereinto continuous with said surface, said grooves opening toward each other and toward said surface, an index sheet upon said surface having edge portions inserted into the grooves, and a relatively stiff resilient transparent sheet placed over the index sheet having edge portions inserted into the grooves above the rst-named edge portions.

3. A stamp including a die and a base having a convex surface on the side thereof opposite the die, ridges on the said surface projecting above the lower edge of the surface, each of said ridges having a groove extending thereinto continuous with said surface, said grooves opening toward each other and toward said surface, an index sheet upon said surface having edge portions inserted into the grooves, and a relatively stift1 resilient transparent sheet placed over the face, each of said ridges having a groove exj tending thereinto continuous with said surface, said grooves opening toward each other and toward said surface, an index sheet upon said surface and having edge portions inserted into the grooves, a relatively stiff re-` silient transparent" sheet placed over the index sheet and having edge portions in- Y serted into the grooves above the first-named edge portions, said surface having a socket formed therein and said sheets having apertures adapted to be aligned with the socket, and a handle including a portion inserted through the apertures and receivable in the socket, and said handle portion preventing movement of the sheets upon the surface.'

5. A stamp comprising a base having a convex surface, said base including ledges extending along opposite longitudinal side edges of said surface, said ledges projecting over and cooperating with portions of said surface to provide a groove under each of said ledges, an indicia-bearing sheet arranged over said surface having opposite edge portions in said grooves, and a relatively stift', resilient, transparent sheet arranged over said indicia-bearing sheet having edge portions disposed in said grooves and by its own resiliency tending to flatten itself out from the convexity imparted to it by said surface and thereby binding said edge portions in said grooves and retaining itself and said indicia-bearing sheet 1n place upon said surface.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

RICHARD EVANS. 

